Calling all upcoming bandsters...

I just wanted to start a thread where everyone can post their surgery dates and we can start to compare notes.

I am scheduled for 9/12. I have ALL my pre-op stuff next Wed & Thurs, including psych eval, sleep consult, lab work, 4 hr nutrition class, and pre-op appt with surgeon. It is going to be a couple of very full days.

My parents are coming for a visit the following week, and I don't plan on telling them about the surgery, so I am rushing to get through all of that before they get here.

How is everyone else doing getting their pre-op stuff scheduled?

Here is the list of September Bandsters: I'll try to keep it updated for everyone.

9/1 okiegirl

9/1 TexasBr@t

9/1 TruBlueSue

9/1 finallyonmyway

9/1 ashley

9/4 JamesA

9/4 SLHarrison

9/5 Em1125

9/5 kittylover54

9/5 mcw12985

9/5 chabutter

9/5 BigBZ

9/5 TamifromAL

9/6 Ashlee

9/6 Cole

9/6 Kathy S

9/6 r2ht4u

9/6 Gjdf52

9/6 babyjessica

9/6 P McDonald

9/6 harlito

9/6 kareyquilts

9/6 LindaN

9/7 bibytz

9/7 kristyinusa

9/7 sunnshyne411

9/7 MICHELLE43

9/7 cassandra

9/7 green

9/7 happykat

9/8 dovie6523

9/8 valgal1968

9/8 PattyMartin

9/9 mary9

9/9 msgoat4949

9/11 cindyn

9/11 BJean

9/11 SheryBery

9/11 SherryA

9/11 RHCPgirl

9/11 lamamama

9/11 PHAT TX

9/11 drcollier

9/11 fraleyk

9/11 Dana Kwt

9/12 want2lose

9/12 ItsGottaGo!

9/12 TxAngel

9/12 HopeWorks

9/12 kattiegirl

9/12 brendab

9/13 katt

9/13 jewel

9/13 avasa

9/13 whlatimer

9/13 twiceblessed

9/13 suleehci@yahoo.

9/14 gonnabethin

9/14 mom of many

9/14 spike6

9/15 swanny

9/15 fugnick

9/15 coryW

9/15 ericergoman

9/15 melissa0915

9/18 Linstadt

9/18 tayvia99

9/18 April

9/18 Turmoil

9/18 LovinColorado

9/19 vv0710

9/19 susoue

9/19 Elaine53

9/19 reredc

9/19 missSD

9/19 sweet31eve

9/19 lisalee

9/20 mariecarmen

9/20 wantlapband

9/20 samos

9/20 labradoodle

9/20 ErinS

9/20 beechpad

9/20 lifelongband

9/20 mejomojogolow

9/21 jgandg

9/21 WandaKay

9/21 Dallasmist

9/21 JewelsInLove

9/21 YellowRoseKnows

9/22 diane5467

9/22 kellieatkins30

9/22 Lila

9/22 shell04937

9/22 venetiaann

9/22 butterfly1973

9/22 teachmath

9/23 tgjones

9/25 buzz321

9/25 sandranoelle

9/26 marie noone

9/26 christy

9/26 Lin

9/26 The Woman

9/27 Bettina

9/27 tommygirl

9/27 GettinThinMan

9/27 MimIN

9/28 Tracicat

9/28 jumbojet

9/28 "D"-n-OK

9/28 rbabcock61

9/28 Lisa99

9/29 Lapoli7

9/29 ratgirl

9/29 sweetsue

9/29 chattanoogabrat

9/29 phw72

9/29 JessyInSD

9/29 Chrissy "O"

I've been playing around with my camera and the 'puter for a couple of hours this morning, and managed to get some pics loaded in the Before and After thread. 'Course I'm not really "after" yet, it's still "during". But, it was good to see the pics together to see how far I've come so far. Check me out!

Tami

Hey there September Bandsters,

I have been away from this website for a long time, but happy to be checking in after the holidays. How is everyone?

I see I missed the start of the St. Patty's Day challenge, but just put me down for a starting weight of 200 lbs. I've lost 30 since my surgery and have started going to Jazzercise classes since the first of the year. I'm hoping to accelerate my weight loss in anticipation of summer.

I'd like to shout out to TrueBluSue, who I think was in surgery the same day as me with Dr. De La Garza in Mexico on September 1. Hang in there. We can do this!

Happy New Year September Bandsters!

Tami: Your before and after shots were "marvelous daarling!" You look great. Big difference in hips and your face. It makes me even more proud of you. Thanks for sharing.

TamifromAL...Just looked at your before and afters and all I can say is WOW. Your beautiful! I would never let anyone take my picture, now I have no befores. I think that was probably a real bad idea. Looking at those two pictures must be a great insentive. Your doing Awesome. Congratulation.

I'd like to shout out to TrueBluSue, who I think was in surgery the same day as me with Dr. De La Garza in Mexico on September 1. Hang in there. We can do this!

Happy New Year September Bandsters!

Hi - Am here and doing okay, although I went back to get a fill on Wednesday, and the doc wouldn't give me one since I lost 4 (FOUR DAMMIT) pounds in Dec....BUT - I am half way to my goal!!!! Its been tough with the holidays and head hunger....

How are you doing???

Suz

Trublusue: The same thing happened to me!!!!! Went in for a fill and didn't get one because I had lost 5.5 lbs. in 4 weeks. Got a lecture instead. Well tonight I had 2 large pieces of pizza with big fluffy crust around the edges that gave me no problems.

All the commericals on TV around the holidays for truffles when I had truffles in my house was awful! Made it through Halloween, Christmas and then New Years began my downward spiral. Or upward depending on how you look at it.

Once you allow yourself carbs, you have to get ready for the appetite to come on strong. I have to get off of them again and get serious! Halfway isn't good enough. Good, but not what I bargained for.

Let's get reinspired Suz and do this thang!

MimIN thank you for keeping this. I'm in at 282. I've had a rough few weeks and haven't paid much attention to anything. My ex-husband died (age 58) and although divorced we were very close. I have inherited his two dogs and had a bunch of stuff to do and feelings to feel. I'm ready to go on. Wish me luck and if anyone has been thru this, when will I stop crying? Katt

Katt, I'm so very sorry about your ex-husband and your close friend. He was so young. I've lost people who were very dear to me. It is very hard. It will take time. There are a lot of things you will have to feel and endure in order to move on without crying so much.

Even when you think you're finished crying, a person will appear who reminds you of him, a song, the dogs, lots of things, because you shared so many memories. You will feel sad again. But I can tell you for sure that one day, hopefully before too long, you will begin to just remember the good things. You will be able to laugh about something fun that reminds you of him. You will be able to look at his picture and talk about him without so much pain. He would want that, I am sure. He wouldn't want you to feel bad. He would want you to be happy. And you will be. It just takes time.

BJ - You're right - I need to get reinspired - and the carbs, truffles, crap over the holidays and not going to the gym did me in, I think....I'm sitting here drinking my coffee laced with protein, and eating steel-cut scottish oats (the kind you have to cook for ten min, but good) thinking I have to get back on the gym routine...and watching what I eat, and cutting out the damn peanut m and m's!!!....<grin> I am not feeling much restriction, either - I ate a couple of boneless wings last night (no breading) but could only eat a couple - pizza with thick crust is a no-go, but I can eat the thin crust...I can eat an english muffin! I know its a bad idea, but it all goes down relatively easy....

Karey, Pero...Is that like Postum? That's a non-coffee hot drink my Mom used to give us when we were kids. I might have to check out the Pero/Postum again. I don't like to have too much coffee in a day, and it's nice to have something else now and then. I also try to remember to drink green tea. It's got some kind of anti-oxidants that are good for you, plus it supposedly increased the metabolism!

BJean, I don't have any secret about the water-loading. But, I have a very moderate amount of restriction, and can still chug water. I drink at least 8 oz. right before I eat.

finallyonmyway, welcome back! Won't it be fun this summer flaunting our new bods? I've never done Jazzersize. Is it hard to learn the movements?

Kary, Lauri, aw shucks, thanks! Weird thing about looking at my pics side by side. How is it that my boobs got bigger and my neck got longer? :bounce: Lauri, trust me, I wouldn't have allowed that pic to be taken except for the fact that I was having surgery the next day, and I knew there'd be an "after" to follow!

TruBluSue & BJean, dang, that'd tick me off if my doc was that persnickity. I was well over the "2 lb./wk" when I got my second fill. Unfortunately, I ended up a bit over-filled, and I guess that's why they come up with arbitrary guidelines like that. Plus, I have a theory that you almost need to get to the point of being over-filled and then a small un-fill to know what is "just right".

katt, I'm so sorry for your loss. :hug:

Tami

1/13/07

15" walk with dogs

30" elliptical

B: Coffee, LF Creamora, S&L; 1 c. Kashi; 1/2 c. 1% milk

L: 3/4 c. split pea soup; rice cake; 2 T. LF peanut butter

D: 1 c. Turkey/beef chili; 7 LF tortilla chips; 1/2 oz. cheddar

Tami- "Pero" is like Postum, but it's not as bitter. I like the taste of Pero better, smoother somehow.

BJean & Suz- It is frustrating about the fill situation. I guess I would whine a lot more to the doc and not let them intimidate me. I know easier said than done.

Katt- I think that BJean gave you some good advice. I'm sorry for your loss. Life is not fair. I hope that you will be extra kind to yourself and just allow your feelings to come out. I think that is the best way. When I loss someone very dear to me, I realized that it was a process. I think that about the one year anniversary that there was a shift and I was able to feel more at peace. Take care of yourself (but not with food). Best wishes. If you need to vent, do it here, people will rally around you.

haven't been able to post I have family here from Calif.. So fun with 4 little granddaughters running around the house. ages 3, 5, and almost 8 twins. We spent yesterday up by Salt Lake at my daughters home with 5 kids. so we had 8 s and the one boy went sledding alllllll day to get away from the s.

Yesterday I had:

2 eggs and a piece of toast and 1/2 cup oj

2 pieces deli ham with cheese rolled up

Protein bar

chinese food. small plate full

cup of hot choco (the with sugar kind)

It was a crazy eating day.

I also walked in the pool.

sorry I have to go. my husband just called me to come up stairs. he needs moral support. the cold water works on the 1st floor but not up stairs.. can the water freeze between floors in a warm house?? the weather outside is cold.. below freezing (how cold is it Karey?) anyway I guess I better hold his hand.. by for now

TruBluSue - Glad to hear you are doing well. I understand your struggle. I have rid my house of goodies to eliminate tempation, but it is still hard. My head hunger is always in high gear :hungry: - especially this time of year when the weather sucks and there is nothing to do. I get so bored when I'm sitting in front of the TV. I find myself staring into my healthy pantry and wishing for chocolate. I guess there is no cure for that. Thank god for the band. I have never had my physician give me any trouble about losing too much weight between fills. That's interesting to me... I hope he never does. I can't lose this fat soon enough! Isn't it adequate punishment to have carried it around and regained it this long? You might consider another doctor for fills.... You should feel great about your loss, though. You've done very well!

TamifromAL - Jazzercise is a lot of fun. Mostly I just wanted an inexpensive exercise option and the classes always motivate me to work harder than sweating it out on my own in a gym. I love dancing, so that makes the classes interesting for me. The moves aren't too difficult, but I used to dance in high school so it's alot like learning a dance routine for me. Jazzercise isn't the corny 80's class that people still remember. We do body sculpting with weights and killer ab workouts in our classes. I can really feel the difference. After each class I feel really good about myself having worked out for an hour. It keeps me motivated to keep trying to get this weight off. Can't wait for summer - really hope to have that body worth flaunting! Let's keep thinking those positive thoughts! :clap2:

Monday weigh in - lost nothing! Still the same! I am getting really frustrated....

Whew, you snow-shoein', pipe-freezin' northerners ought to come on down to the south to thaw out! It was 74 and sunny yesterday! I walked the dogs wearing a tank top, and worked up a sweat. But, we're in for several days of rain now. I'd rather have pretty, white snow than dreary old rain. :rain:

Finallyonmyway, my advice is to step away from the TV! Unless you have TiVo, and can fast forward through all the food commercials! I was at the gym one day, and glanced at a TV screen. I was listening to my iPod, so couldn't hear what the commercial was about. One guy was eating a typical fast food meal, and then it cut to the other guy who was eating a teeny tiny burger, fries & drink. I thought, "Wow, a bandster-size fast food meal!" :confused: (But no, it was a Wendy's commercial demonstrating how their "value" meals have larger portions.)

TruBlueSue, I know it's gotta be frustrating to do the work, but not see the results. But, you're a relative light-weight, and it's going to be slower for you than for others with further to go to goal. I fully expect my loss to start trickling off when I'm at your weight. Be patient, keep your mind focused on the goal, and it *will* happen!

I'm down two for the challenge this week. Even better, I got in five sessions of exercise of at least 30"! I'm on a roll!

Tami